Overview
Have you ever wondered what it’s like for people who move to a new country?
Sarah and Liam share their story as missionaries in another country and how that shaped their view of being welcoming in Australia.
Podcast
Welcoming People
12 Min.
Thursday, 29 January 2026
Messages of Hope Podcast
‘You have to set up life, and you’re doing it in a totally foreign place. You’ve got no concept of what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, where to go for help, and you don’t have the language to be able to actually do that.’
Have you ever wondered what it’s like for people who move to a new country? ‘You have to set up life, and you’re doing it in a totally foreign place. You’ve got no concept of what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, where to go for help, and you don’t have the language to be able to actually do that.’ Sarah and Liam share their story as missionaries in another country and how that shaped their view of being welcoming in Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting, especially without language skills, cultural knowledge, or support networks.
- Simple everyday tasks become difficult when you’re a stranger, often leaving people feeling helpless, dependent, and unseen.
- Living as foreigners helped Sarah and Liam develop deep empathy for migrants and refugees arriving in Australia
- Being welcoming isn’t about programs or agendas — it starts with presence, friendship, listening, and genuine care.
- Small actions matter: saying hello, learning a word in someone’s language, showing interest, or offering practical help can make people feel valued and safe.
- Building cross-cultural friendships takes effort, patience, and persistence, but the rewards are rich and life-giving.
Episode Transcript
Explore further
Booklets and Related Episodes
Each episode of our regular podcast is accompanied by free resources that provide hope, encouragement and advice for navigating the difficulties and challenges of daily life.
PRAYER REQUEST
Would you like us to pray for you?
We believe God is at work in all things, draws near in challenging circumstances, and loves each and every person fully and unconditionally.
If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, we encourage you to send us a prayer request. Our team would be happy to keep your situation in our prayers.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Support Services
Professional help is always available
Across Australia and New Zealand, God richly blesses us with counsellors, psychologists and medical professionals who are able to offer help, support and hope throughout life’s challenges.
If you have found the themes or topics contained within this episode challenging or confronting, we encourage you to reach out to one of the following professional support organisations.
Support Services
ABOUT MESSAGES OF HOPE
Messages of Hope is a podcast and radio based media ministry of Lutheran Media.
If you would like us to pray for you or for someone you know, we encourage you to send us a prayer request. Our team would be happy to keep your situation in our prayers.
Lutheran Media is a registered charity that exists to use digital, social and creative media to share the joyous Good News of Jesus, and the unconditional love God has for each and every person.
Our supporters provide 100% of the funding that allows us to share hope into the lives of others.